a* Beasts of Draught. 127 



2. It i$ objected to the working of oxen, " that they do not bear 

 heat so well." To this it is answered, that the objection is unfounded 

 in fact. The constitution of the ox accommodates itself, as readily as 

 that of the horse, to different climates. Not only in ancient Greece 

 and Italy, but throughout Asia, as presented to us in ancient history, 

 the ox and the plough are associated. At this day, in the warm dis- 

 tricts of India and China, the ox, not the horse, is in the draught ser- 

 vice. In every part of India in particular, the ox always appears, 

 even in the train of her armies ; and in the hottest parts of the West 

 Indies, the ox is employed in dragging the weightiest produce to the 

 sea-ports. 



3. The next objection is, that oxen are slower in their movements, 

 and cannot do so much work in a day as horses. This must in ge- 

 neral be admitted ; but in a less degree than is commonly supposed. 

 Where oxen are well chosen for their form, are not worked after 

 they have reached their eighth year, (at which age they are best fitted 

 to be fattened), and are suitably matched, they may be brought to 

 nearly as quick a step as the generality of horses, and to as quick a 

 step as that of many horses, when they are aged, or ill-fed. 



Horses, in England, plough about a statute acre of stubble in the 

 course of the day ; oxen about three-fourths of that quantity. 

 After various trials, these have been found about the average perfor- 

 mances of each *. But in many cases, oxen have done more ; and 

 to accustom them to a greater quickness of movement, they should 

 be trained upon light land, that they may acquire both a full, and a 

 quick step. 



4. It is further objected, that oxen, being weaker in the back than 

 horses, are not so able to carry heavy burdens. But to that objec- 

 tion it is answered, that what they want in strength of back, is com- 

 pensated, by the superior powers they possess in their neck. Hence 

 their harness ought to be made, so that the draught should not be 

 placed so much on their backs as that of horses, but chiefly on their 

 necks, where their great strength lies. 



5. It is next said, that oxen cannot bear extra work. This is a 

 material objection, and the only one entitled to much weight, as the 

 profit of a farmer, more especially in bad seasons, often depends on 

 the getting his work done within a given time. In any unforeseen 

 emergency, when a great pressure of work occurs, a horse may be fed 

 up almost to any labour, however severe. But if an ox is pushed be- 

 yond his usual rate, he often sinks under his work, and is rendered 

 useless for some time afterwards f. 



Lord Somerville however maintained, that oxen are capable, not 

 only of constant work, but of extra labour ; and should a rest occur 

 for a week or ten days, there is a profit attending their growth : this 

 general profit, on an average, may be stated at twenty per cent, on 

 their value ; a circumstance much in favour of oxen . 



Curwen's Report, p. 78. 



f General Report of Scotland, vol. iii. p. 203. But Mr Walker asserts, 

 that by feeding oxen with hashed oats, he has made them do as much extra 

 work as horses. 



f Farmer's Magazine, vol. vi. p. 5. 



